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The bombshell inquiry into the state's Deputy Police
Commissioner Dave Madden, two assistant commissioners and two
superintendents is linked to the investigation into rape
allegations against senior Bulldogs footballers at Coffs Harbour
early last year.

Police Commissioner Ken Moroney referred his trusted deputy
Madden, who is also head of police operations, to the Police
Integrity Commission after receiving an independent legal brief on
the months-long Bulldogs inquiry.

The advice, prepared by barrister Glenn Bartley, of Frederick
Jordan Chambers, reviewed the police handling of rape allegations
made by a 20-year-old woman after an incident at Pacific Bay
Resort, Coffs Harbour, in February last year.

Mr Bartley, who has previously acted for senior police, the
Crown and state government agencies, concluded that there may have
been breaches of the Listening Devices Act and the Telephone
Interception Act.

His inquiry covered:

The operational procedures of Strike Force McGuigon, which
handled the rape complaint and cleared the league stars;

The leaked police occurrence report, known as the COPS
entry, broadcast by 2GB radio host Ray Hadley two days after the
alleged rape incident;

The wide use of police bugging warrants to tap the phones
of players, club officials and possibly journalists; and

The inadequacy of internal police inquiries into the
conduct of senior officers in charge of the Coffs Harbour case.

Mr Moroney consulted the newly appointed head of police legal
affairs Bob Redfern and Les Tree, director-general of the Ministry
for Police, before sending the brief to PIC chairman Terry
Griffin.

Senior Carr Government and NSW Police officials yesterday
specifically ruled out media speculation that the PIC inquiry
related to police promotions, a source of running controversy in
senior ranks.

Bulldogs director Jim Hall, a former policeman and ex-head of
the National Rugby League's judiciary panel, said yesterday the
club had been "very dissatisfied" with the police handling of the
rape claims.

"It was an inquiry which should have been completed in a couple
of weeks but it took months," Mr Hall said. "The club lost $1.2
million in sponsorship, we were fined $500,000 by the NRL and, as a
result of all this, we lost some great players like Steve
Price."

The club's anger was reignited two weeks ago when the NRL
imposed another fine of $72,295 for a shortfall in its level of
sponsorship - a shortfall directly caused by sponsors walking away
after the highly damaging Coffs Harbour allegations.

Mr Hall said the club's chief executive Malcolm Noad had
requested a PIC inquiry into police conduct last year but it had
been turned down.

The PIC has already started inquiries and will conduct
interviews with Mr Madden and the other senior officers behind
closed doors in the coming weeks.

Mr Griffin will then decide whether to hold public hearings.

A young man at Mr Madden's home said yesterday that he was not
at home. Mr Madden's voicemail stated he was "currently on leave"
and that any work-related matters should be referred to NSW
Police.

The other four officers have sought legal advice from the NSW
Police Association.

While three of the senior officers referred to the PIC have gone
on indefinite leave, Superintendent Dave Swilks will continue
heading up the Waratah command, which covers northern and western
Newcastle.

Superintendent Swilks was relaxing at his Lake Macquarie home
yesterday.

He said: "The investigation is current and I can't say anything
while they are doing it."

Mr Moroney was still refusing to comment yesterday.

Where it started

Glenn Bartley, the senior barrister whose advice to Police
Commissioner Ken Moroney triggered an inquiry into five senior
officers, is the son of former Children's Court magistrate Reg
Bartley. A former Boy Scout and old boy of Marist Brothers,
Parramatta, Mr Bartley, aged in his early 50s, graduated from the
University of Sydney and has built a successful practice at
Frederick Jordan Chambers in Martin Place. Mr Bartley, his wife and
three school-age children live in Sydney's eastern suburbs.